Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Eire Government informed the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure of its contribution towards the Ulster-Scots Agency's budget for 2004; how much was that contribution; and what is the figure agreed by the North/South Ministerial Council replacement procedure.

Baroness Amos: The 2004 budget for the Ulster-Scots Agency was set after consultation between the sponsor departments and the agency. The chief executive was advised on 30 October 2003 that the Ulster-Scots Agency's budget for 2004 would be in the region of £1.67 million. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA) advised the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) on 13 November 2003 that the 2004 abridged estimates had been published and the amount allocated for the North/South Language Body was 14.633 million euros. There was no breakdown for the Irish Language Agency or the Ulster-Scots Agency. The budget figure agreed for the Ulster-Scots Agency by the North/South Ministerial Council under the interim procedure was £1.704 million.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the 2004 budgets for the Cross-Border Implementation Bodies; what percentage change these represent over 2003; and what change in the proportion contributed by each government.

Baroness Amos: The approved budgets for 2004 for each of the North/South Implementation Bodies and the percentage change compared to the 2003 budgets are set out in the table below. The proportion contributed by each government remained unchanged for all of the bodies except the Special EU Programmes Body, for which the northern contribution to the budget was increased from 55 per cent in 2003 to 56 per cent in 2004.
	
		
			 North/South Implementation Body 2004 Budget (£million) % Change from 2003 Budget 
			 Waterways Ireland (1) 31.70 40.2 
			 InterTradeIreland 9.00 0.0 
			 Special EU Programmes Body 2.02 0.0 
			 Language Body— 
			 Ulster-Scots Agency 1.7 10.6 
			 Foras na Gaeilge 12.9 13.0 
			 Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission 3.2 0.0 
			 Food Safety Promotion Board 6.08 12.2 
		
	
	1 The increase in the budget is principally due to an allocation of £5.9 million towards building new headquarters in Enniskillen; a change in the euro/sterling exchange rate from £0.63 in 2003 to £0.69 in 2004 amounting to an increase of £2.2 million; and increased running costs of £1 million.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the budget of the Waterways Ireland Cross-Border Implementation Body was increased by 6.3 per cent between 2002 and 2003; what information was used to facilitate the increase; and whether the proportion of contributions has changed.

Baroness Amos: Waterways Ireland operates in euros. Its budget for 2002 was set at 37.24 million euros or £21.99 million using an exchange rate of 0.59.
	The budget for 2003 was set in euros at 35.89 million euros or £22.61 million using an exchange rate of 0.63. Unfortunately, the Answer given by my predecessor the late Lord Williams of Mostyn on 10 March 2003 (WA 163) was incorrect due to an administrative error. The Answer stated the agreed allocation to Waterways Ireland for 2002 as £21.26 million. As stated above, the correct figure is £21.99 million. I apologise for this inadvertent mistake.
	Comparison of the sterling equivalents shows an apparent increase, however this is simply a consequence of a movement in the relevant exchange rate. The underlying budget decreased by 1.35 million euros or 3.6 per cent.
	The budget for 2003 was based on a business plan submitted by the body to the sponsoring departments north and south.
	The agreement on apportionment of costs between the two jurisdictions is that Northern Ireland contributes 15 per cent of the running costs of the body and the Republic of Ireland contributes 85 per cent. Each government funds 100 per cent of the capital costs of projects undertaken in their jurisdiction. This formula has not changed. ra/and shirley

West Belfast Festival

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What funding they provided for the major Irish festival in west Belfast in 2003; from what sources and on what basis the funding was provided; and when were the applications for funding received.

Baroness Amos: In 2003 Feile an Phobail (Feile), often described as the West Belfast Festival, received government funding totalling £583,480 through the Department of Social Development (DSD), Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) and Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI). The following table sets out the funding source, the basis of the funding, the date the application was received and the amount of government funding allocated in 2003. Feile an Phobail (West Belfast Festival) Funding 2003
	
		
			 Funding Source Basis of Funding Date Application Received Amount of Funding (£) 
			 DSD via  (a) Belfast Regeneration Office and (b) the Voluntary and Community Unit (a) Festival contributed to a number of aspects of public policy namely tourism, arts and culture, and social/community development. (a) May 2002 and August 2003. £187,791 
			  (b) Short term funding Programme for key services from the Social Inclusion/Community Regeneration Executive Programme Fund. (b) November 2002.  
			 DCAL via  (a) Arts Council of Northern Ireland, (b) Northern Ireland Events Company and (c) Foras na Gaeilge (a)(i) Artistic programme information and budget provided. (ii) 3 year access grant provided on basis of artistic programme information and budget and was directed specifically towards the Oscailt disability development programme. (a)(i) 29 November 2002  (ii) 28 February 2001 (a)(i) £80,000  (ii) £23,750 
			  (b) To assist with growing international elements of the Festival. 16 May 2003 £20,000 
			  (c) Sponsorship of various Irish language related events during the festival and on Feile FM. May 2003 £11,000 
			 DFP via Belfast Local Strategy Partnership (a) Area-based Regeneration funding for Feile FM Radio to develop its services professionally and to refurbish premises to create the first phase of a creative industries multimedia floor. 29 May 2003 £124,025 
			  (b) Locally based human resource, training and development strategy—funding to provide training in radio skills. 25 March 2003 £121,914 
			 DETI via The Northern Ireland Tourist Board NITB events support scheme to assist marketing outside Northern Ireland. 8 April 2003 £15,000 
			 Total Funding   £583,480

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they consider should have been taken, or should now be taken, to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur.

Baroness Amos: DfID is very concerned about the humanitarian situation in Darfur and is working to bring about improvements. The UN and other international agencies are now present in some areas of Darfur, though limited access means limited ability to protect the most vulnerable and respond to needs. A key concern is protection of civilians. DfID has contributed over £8 million in response to the crisis and seconded four humanitarian officers to the UN to reinforce its response. Ceasefire talks in N'Djamena are a welcome first step to resolving the crisis.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked the Leader of the House:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 11 March (WA 183), what has been the Government's record in meeting the target of answering Written Questions within two weeks in each department, apart from the Scotland Office and the Wales Office, for each of the past five years.

Baroness Amos: This information is only available from 23 January 2002.
	From 23 January 2002 to 22 January 2004, 9,013 Questions for Written Answer were tabled. Of these, 5,384 (60 per cent) were answered within the two-week deadline. The table below gives a breakdown by department (for completeness, I have included both the Scotland and Wales Office).
	I continue to review all outstanding Questions with my ministerial colleagues on a weekly basis and am pleased to say that since 22 January 2004 to date, 1,341 Questions for Written Answer have been tabled, of which 74 per cent have been answered within the two-week deadline—a big improvement on the previous figures.
	
		
			  23 January 2002 to 22 January 2003 23 January 2003 to 22 January 2004   
			 Departments Number of Questions Tabled % answered within the 14-day deadline Number of Questions Tabled % answered within the 14-day deadline 
			 Cabinet Office 141 39.72 134 58.21 
			 Chairman of Committees 25 100 34 91.18 
			 Chief Whips Office (HoL) 7 100 0 0 
			 Department for Constitutional Affairs 145 59.31 220 52.73 
			 Department for International Development 59 33.90 99 75.76 
			 Department for Transport 301 86.38 243 84.77 
			 Department for Work and Pensions 83 36.14 156 58.97 
			 Department of Health 642 47.82 618 59.48 
			 Department of Trade and Industry 168 47.62 269 51.67 
			 Department for Culture, Media & Sport 141 71.63 169 88.76 
			 Department for Education & Skills 135 65.19 203 70.94 
			 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 441 64.85 331 55.29 
			 Foreign & Commonwealth Office 381 66.40 541 47.13 
			 Her Majesty's Treasury 225 85.33 234 84.19 
			 Home Office 354 55.08 483 51.97 
			 Law Officers' Department 19 63.16 40 55 
			 Leader of House of Lords and Lord President of the Council 20 70 25 84 
			 Ministry of Defence 205 62.44 326 55.83 
			 Northern Ireland Office 426 32.63 694 21.61 
			 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 94 53.19 126 71.43 
			 Other Departments 35 80 0 0 
			 Scotland Office 15 6.67 2 100 
			 Wales Office 1 0 3 100 
			 Totals 4,063 58.04 4,950 55.64

United States Supreme Court

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have intervened in proceedings pending before the Supreme Court of the United States; and, if so, for what reason and upon what issues.

Lord Goldsmith: The Government have intervened in two cases currently pending before the US Supreme Court.
	The Government, together with the Australian and Swiss Governments, filed an amicus brief on 23 January 2004 in the Sosa v Alvarez case which concerns the Alien Tort Statute (ATS). It is hoped that this case will serve as a test case on the scope of the ATS. The concern addressed by the Government's amicus brief is the use of the ATS by US courts to gain extra-territorial jurisdiction over non-US nationals or companies.
	The Government also filed an amicus brief on 3 February 2004 jointly with the Irish and Netherlands Governments in the case of Empagran SA v Hoffman La-Roche Ltd. This case is of considerable importance for determining the future jurisdiction or scope of US competition law and the Government considered that it was important that the US courts are aware that their decisions have implications for competition regulation in jurisdictions outside the US.

Kosovo

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the extent to which the borders between (a) Kosovo and Albania and (b) Kosovo and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are adequately secured; and who controls these borders.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Responsibility for border control points in Kosovo is held by the Kosovo police service under the authority of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. Responsibility for the border security of Kosovo, including adjacent to the border with Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, rests with the NATO-led Kosovo Force. On the Macedonian side of the border, responsibility for border crossing points rests with the Macedonian border police, and for the rest of the border with the First Army Brigade. On the Albanian side of the border, the Albanian police are responsible for border control. We assess that Kosovo's borders with both Albania and Macedonia are adequately secured.

Guantanamo Bay: British Detainees

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6 October 2003 (WA 23) and 22 March 2004 (WA 76):
	(a) what representations they have received from constituency Members of Parliament concerning five former British residents held as prisoners at Guantanamo Bay;
	(b) what are the names of the men in question;
	(c) where they were arrested;
	(d) whether the five men had refugee status or indefinite or exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom;
	(e) whether the men are British protected persons under the British Nationality Act 1981 or subsequent legislation; and
	(f) why Her Majesty's Government appear to have taken no steps to visit the men or to protect their interests.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: In accordance with our obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998, we are not in a position to give details requested in parts (a) to (d) of the question. I am withholding this information under exemptions 12 and 15 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	We have received no indication from their families or lawyers that any of the British residents detained at Guantanamo Bay are British nationals or have the status of British protected persons. The Government are therefore not in a position to provide them with consular or diplomatic assistance

European Union Diplomatic Academy

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they support the establishment of an academy to train European Union-based diplomats, so as to complement the work of the national embassies in promoting European Union initiatives, including its common foreign and security policy.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The intergovernmental conference at the end of 2003 did not discuss the proposal from the Convention on the Future of Europe's External Action Working Group for the creation of an EU diplomatic academy. The Government would want to see details of any proposal before considering support.

Syria

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made representations to Syria concerning recent killings by their security forces and about long-standing denial of citizenship and passports to numbers of ethnic minorities.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Our embassy in Damascus is monitoring events in the north-east of Syria following the recent disturbances in Qamishli. We have raised our concerns about the disturbances, and the standing of the Syrian Kurdish population with the Syrian authorities. While we welcome the current calm we will continue to closely monitor the situation.

Home Office Programmes

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which programmes funded by the Home Office and its sponsored bodies can be accessed by sports organisations to promote (a) social inclusion; (b) crime reduction; (c) drug reduction; (d) social cohesion; and (e) anti-racism.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Home Office funding that could be accessed by sport organisations includes: Positive Activities for Young People, Positive Futures, the Building Safer Communities Fund, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's Purposeful Activity for Asylum Seekers and the Youth Justice Board's Youth Inclusion Programme. Although Home Office funding does not go directly to sports organisations, sport is recognised as a key mechanism for engaging individuals and communities. Indirectly sports clubs and organisations contribute much to the development of active and safe communities.
	For example, diversionary schemes that engage young people in sports or recreational-based constructive activity targeted to steer those young people most at risk away from crime are a key to the Government's programme for reducing youth crime.
	Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) is a national scheme to provide developmental activities during all school holiday periods for young people at risk of becoming involved in offending.
	PAYP received £25 million single pot funding for 2003–04, to which the New Opportunities Fund, Department for Education and Skills and the Home Office contributed, bringing together funding streams previously going into Connexions Summer Plus, Splash, Splash Extra and community cohesion activities.
	The programme aims to reduce youth offending and encourage and support young people to return to education or training. The emphasis is on providing quality sports, arts and creative activities that are not only appealing but focussed on the young person's individual needs, equipping them with new skills, improving their self-esteem and breaking down ethnic and cultural barriers. Key worker support—provided through the Connexions service—helps those most at risk.
	Another programme is Positive Futures, which is a national sport and activity-based programme for young people and is addressing the multiple issues associated with problematic substance misuse. It is targeted at marginalised young people in the 10–19 age range living in the top 20 per cent most deprived communities, according to the indices of multiple deprivation.
	Although Positive Futures is primarily a drug prevention programme it addresses issues of social inclusion, crime reduction and community cohesion. 20 per cent of the 14,000 project participants last year were from black and minority ethnic communities. simone
	Positive Futures brings together in one programme the support of a number of government departments and agencies including the Home Office, Department of Health, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Connexions (Department for Education and Skills), Sport England, Youth Justice Board and the Football Foundation.
	Positive Futures is managed through local partnerships that appoint lead agencies to deliver sports, educational and drug awareness programmes. These lead agencies can be sports organisations (e.g. Toxteth Tigers Basketball Club, Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme, etc) crime reduction, drug services, charities, local authorities or voluntary/community agencies.
	There are 107 projects in England and Wales in the top 20 per cent most deprived areas in the country (according to the index of multiple deprivation). There have been just fewer than 35,000 participants since its launch in 2000. It is funded nationally by:
	the Home Office (£15 million over three years from SR 2002),
	the Football Foundation £3 million over SR 2002 period),
	Sport England (£0.5 million for 2003–04).
	All Home Office funding has been allocated for the SR 2002 period, however Football Foundation funding can be accessed by applying directly to it. Sport England funding is targeted at the evaluation programme and workforce standards initiative.
	Sports agencies could potentially be allocated funding under the Building Safer Communities (BSC) Fund to promote crime and drugs reduction. This fund, which totals £74 million this year is primarily allocated to crime disorder reduction partnerships (CDRP) to fulfil a number of crime reduction priorities, both national and local. But where CDRPs can demonstrate a clear link between certain youth inclusion interventions (such as sports activities) and crime reduction, BSC may in theory be used for that sort of activity and CDRPs may sponsor those activities and bodies to carry out local activities on their behalf.
	All of the Youth Justice Board's prevention and early intervention programmes promote social inclusion, crime reduction, drug-use reduction, social cohesion and anti-racism. The Youth Justice Board's (YJB) funding is mainly channeled through youth offending teams (YOTs) and does not directly fund sports organisations to run any projects such as Youth Inclusion. However, sports organisations are involved in the delivery of activities within some of the projects funded by YJB. The 2003 evaluation of the Youth Inclusion Programme (YIP) did show that sporting interventions were the most popular form of intervention with young people at risk of becoming involved in crime. Many YIPs are linked to Positive Futures and have the same client group.
	The Purposeful Activities for Asylum Seekers scheme provided funds for 38 organisations in 2003 that ran sporting activities. It is our intention that sports activities run under this funding scheme would help to promote social inclusion and anti-racism by bringing together asylum seekers with members of their local community in a friendly situation encouraging co-operation and communication.
	Any organisation wishing to apply for Purposeful Activity funding is eligible to run sporting activities as long as they do promote social inclusion and community cohesion. Organisations running sports-orientated events as a means of entertainment that could be interpreted as serving only asylum seekers and excluding the local community would not be eligible for funding. ra

Asylum Decisions

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Statement by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 15 March (HL Deb, col. 119), what specific measures they intend to take to secure "the improvement of the initial decision-making process" in refugee cases; and whether they will earmark funds for this purpose.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government are committed to delivering high quality decisions at all stages of the asylum system. Many improvements have already been made, including setting a specific target for decision quality, introducing quality assurance systems involving both internal and external assessment, enhanced training and use of language testing.
	We are determined to build on these improvements to ensure that the highest standards are consistently achieved. We are discussing with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees how they might work with us to provide an additional external assessment of the quality of decisions. We are looking at other ways of strengthening the quality of assurance systems, including sampling a cohort of the same cases at each stage of the initial decision process. We are developing greater external input to our training from other organisations with specialist skills and have introduced the Independent Country Information Advisory Panel to ensure that the country information is as accurate, objective and up to date as possible. These and other measures will continue to drive up the quality of initial decisions.
	Despite the rapid fall in the number of asylum applications in 2003, down to 49,370 and 41 per cent lower than in 2002, we have maintained the resources available for decision-making on asylum claims. This has enabled us to reduce the backlog of outstanding applications to 24,500—the lowest level for a decade—and to increase the investment in initial and refresher training for asylum caseworkers. ra

Terrorist Organisations

Lord Turnberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will add the political wing of Hamas to the proscribed list of terrorist organisations in light of that group's recent announcement that it was responsible for recruiting, training and deploying the British suicide bombers who killed three Israelis and injured many others in 'Mike's Place' bar in Tel Aviv in April 2003.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Decisions to proscribe and de-proscribe are and will continue to be taken only after the most careful consideration and on the basis of the best possible security and other appropriate advice. That will remain the basis for all decisions in the future.

Habitual Residence Test

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hollis of Heigham on 9 March (WA 165), what has been the cost so far of litigation arising from Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: It is not possible to identify these costs separately within the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's expenditure.

Home Secretary: Special Adviser

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the areas of Home Office policy within the scope of work done by Dr Matt Cavanagh, special adviser to the Home Secretary; and whether those areas include the Government's policies or practices as regards equality of opportunity, or legislation and practice regarding race relations, immigration and asylum or the functions of the proposed Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Dr Cavanagh is responsible for advising the Home Secretary on the development and communication of policy and practice in the following areas: immigration, nationality, and asylum; race and community cohesion; citizenship and active communities; Europe; research and statistics.
	Equal opportunity policy cuts across most government departments and is a government policy rather than the responsibility of any single department though the Home Office has specific responsibility for race equality and social cohesions.
	Work on the proposed Equality and Human Rights Commission involves several government departments, including the Home Office, and is co-ordinated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). ra

Maghaberry Prison

Lord Eames: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have for future development of HM Prison Maghaberry in relation to asylum seekers.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have no plans for future development of Her Majesty's Prison Maghaberry in relation to asylum seekers.

Maghaberry Prison

Lord Eames: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are satisfied that current facilities in HM Prison Maghaberry are appropriate for the detention of those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We are satisfied that the current facilities in Her Majesty's Prison Maghaberry are appropriate for the accommodation of immigration detainees who wish to remain in Northern Ireland rather than be transferred to an Immigration Service removal centre in Great Britain.
	The location of immigration detainees at HMP Maghaberry is separate from the main prison population and every effort is made to cater for their needs. These detainees are managed as untried prisoners with a more favourable regime, which is more akin to that of enhanced prisoners.

Maghaberry Prison

Lord Eames: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are satisfied that all alternatives to HM Prison Maghaberry as a location for those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom have been examined.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have no plans at present to end the use of Her Majesty's Prison Maghaberry for the very small numbers of immigration detainees who express a preference to remain in Northern Ireland rather than be transferred to an Immigration Service removal centre in Great Britain. The small numbers of individuals concerned, usually fewer than 10 at any one time, would not be sufficient to make a dedicated detention facility in Northern Ireland viable to establish or operate.

Asylum Seekers: Care Needs

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action has been taken to implement the recommendations of the 2002 Joseph Rowntree Foundation study, Disabled People in Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Communities in Britain.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Since the study was published in 2002, the respective responsibilities of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) and local authorities have been clarified in the House of Lords (R vWestminster City Council (ex parte NASS)). On 25 March 2004, the Home Office issued a consultation document on proposals for the support of asylum seekers with care needs. The consultation document aims at establishing a clear process for asylum seekers with care needs so that they can receive appropriate care and that the most vulnerable cases are recognised, and suitable care organised, at the earliest opportunity.
	NASS has special teams that deal with complex and specific cases of need.
	All NASS staff receive induction training that covers race and equality issues. It is important that all staff dealing with people with diverse needs are properly equipped to both understand and help meet them as required. The approach in NASS is to ensure our staff treat people with dignity, civility and understanding and our learning and development opportunities focus on this approach.
	NASS officials are also working with a local authority-led working group that is considering how to collect data on asylum seekers with care needs.
	We have also introduced induction centres. As part of the induction centre process health screening, including an assessment of primary healthcare needs, is offered. The asylum seeker is given a record of the health assessment to take with them on dispersal. ra

Children Bill [HL]

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether in the context of the Children Bill they will withdraw their reservation to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, as regards children affected by immigration legislation; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government have no plans to withdraw the United Kingdom's immigration and nationality reservation to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. No child in the United Kingdom is deprived of UN rights but entry to the United Kingdom solely to claim such rights should not be permitted. It would not be right for the immigration rules to be utilised simply in order to make use of convention rights when there already exists in United Kingdom law comprehensive provision for the care and protection of children. The Children Bill does not alter the Government's conclusion that the reservation is necessary to maintain an effective immigration control.

Failing to Stop After a Road Traffic Accident

Viscount Simon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many offences of failing to stop after a road traffic accident resulting in injury were committed in the five years prior to 1 October 2001; and
	How many offences of failing to stop after a road traffic accident resulting in injury have been committed since October 2001 when this became an arrestable offence; and how many drivers have been arrested; and
	If no statistics exist in respect of failing to stop after a road traffic accident resulting in injury, what measures they will put in place to ensure that such statistics are collected.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Within England and Wales information on the number of offences committed by drivers and the number of drivers arrested for the offence of failing to stop after road traffic accident is not collected centrally. ra
	Available information given in table A shows the number of offences proceeded against by result for the offence of failing to stop after an accident under the Road Traffic Act 1988 Section 170 (4) from 1997 to 2001, England and Wales (latest available).
	There are no current plans to separate those offences of failing to stop after an accident, which result in injury from those resulting in damage or both.
	For Scotland available information, given in table B, is taken from the Scottish Executive Justice Department's court proceedings database, and shows the number of persons proceeded against, and the number of crimes recorded by the police, where the main crime/offence was failing to stop or report a road traffic accident.
	There are no current plans to separate those offences which result in injury from those which result in damage or both injury and damage.
	As failing to stop after a road traffic collision is not a recordable offence the Police Service of Northern Ireland does not therefore record these statistics. The offence is not an arrestable offence in Northern Ireland and there are no plans at present to record such information.
	
		Table A Proceedings at magistrates' court and findings of guilt at all courts for offences of failing to stop after an accident(1) 1997–2001, England and Wales. -- Number of offences
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
			 Total proceedings 15,829 15,387 14,923 14,663 15,392 
			 Total findings of guilt 10,172 9,785 9,403 9,190 9,212 
		
	
	(1) Offences under s. 170(4) of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
	
		Table B Persons proceeded against in Scottish courts where the charge was failing to stop or report a road traffic accident 1996 to 2002
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
			 Crimes recorded by police 9,405 9,356 9,594 9,150 8,884 7,749 7,226 
			 Persons proceeded against 1,033 1,041 853 861 715 462 542 
			 of which, charge proved 956 892 745 631 460 462 439

Failing to Stop After a Road Traffic Accident

Viscount Simon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How drivers arrested for failing to stop after a road traffic accident resulting in injury have been identified, through fingerprints or DNA, as having been involved in other criminal activities.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Such records are not kept centrally within England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Internet Crime

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 5 March (WA 127) whether they believe that public awareness of education about phishing needs to be improved and strengthened in the light of reports from the Association of Payment Clearing Services of a surge in such fraudulent activity in recent days.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government consider that the activities referred to in the reply given on 5 March will lead to an improving awareness among the public of attempts to perpetrate fraudulent activities.
	We are aware of the reports from the Association of Payment Clearing Services (APACS) as to the recent period when there were an increasing number of phishing e-mails reported. We continue to monitor such incidences and work together with industry and law enforcement to ensure that there is an appropriate response in relation to all such occurrences of attempted fraudulent activity.

Firearms

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which interested organisation they intend to consult with regard to the proposed review of firearms legislation.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We are keen to receive views from everybody with an interest in the future regulation of firearms and will be distributing the consultation paper widely. It will also be available on the internet. ra

Harrier GR7/9

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What air defence capability at sea is provided by the Harrier GR7/9; and
	Whether the Harrier GR7/9 has an all-weather night air defence capability; and
	What beyond visual range air-to-air capability is provided by the Harrier GR7/9.

Lord Bach: The Harrier GR7/9's principal roles are ground attack and reconnaissance, not air defence. The short range infra-red guided AIM 9L sidewinder missiles it carries are for self-defence. This capability can be employed at night, but relies on the pilot being able to acquire a target aircraft, for instance using forward-looking infra-red or night vision goggles. There is no current intention to equip the GR7/9 with a beyond visual range air-to-air capability.

Iraq: People Detained by British Forces

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many persons are now held at the United Kingdom's detention facility in Shaibah, Iraq; what are their nationalities; and how many of those held in Shaibah have been held there or elsewhere in Iraq for (a) at least three months, (b) at least six months and (c) at least nine months.

Lord Bach: As at 24 March 2004, the UK held 81 internees in the divisional temporary detention facility in Shaibah. The nationalities of these internees are: one Egyptian, one Sudanese, one Syrian, three Saudi Arabians and 75 Iraqis. Forty-eight have been interned for at least three months, 18 for at least six months, and two for at least nine months. Those internees who are interned by the UK prior to the opening of the divisional temporary detention facility on 15 December 2003, were held in an internment facility near Umm Qasr.
	Whether any or these internees have been held previously anywhere else in Iraq by other authorities, is a matter for those authorities. simone

Defence School of Languages

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many overseas personnel, and from which countries, received language training at the Defence School of Languages in each of the past three years.

Lord Bach: The number of overseas students trained at the Defence School of Languages for the last three years is:
	
		
			 Financial Year  
			 2001–02 264 
			 2002–03 246 
			 2003–04 281 
		
	
	
		
			 Country Number of Students
			  01/02 (FY) 02/03 (FY) 03/04 (FY) 
			 Albania 2 2 1 
			 Argentina 1  1 
			 Armenia  2  
			 Austria 1 5 1 
			 Azerbaijan  2  
			 Bahrain 4 8 2 
			 Bangladesh   2 
			 Bolivia   1 
			 Botswana 1 1  
			 Brazil   1 
			 Brunei 8 5  
			 Bulgaria 6 5 6 
			 Chile   2 
			 China 6 4  
			 Croatia 2 2 1 
			 Colombia   1 
			 Czech Republic 13 14 10 
			 Holland   2 
			 Egypt 4 1 4 
			 Estonia 3 3 8 
			 Ethiopia  1  
			 France 33 25  
			 FRY  1  
			 Georgia 3 2 1 
			 Greece  1  
			 Guatemala 1  1 
			 Hungary 7 14 18 
			 Italy  1  
			 Japan 1 1 1 
			 Jordan 1 4 1 
			 Kazakhstan   1 
			 Kenya  1 1 
			 Kuwait 2 3 32 
			 Kyrgystan  1  
			 Latvia 9 9 14 
			 Lithuania 5 7 14 
			 Macedonia 5 6 3 
			 Malawi 1 1  
			 Malaysia 2 3 2 
			 Mauritania  2  
			 Moldova 4  1 
			 Mozambique 1   
			 Nepal 2 3 1 
			 Norway 1  2 
			 Oman 9 4 7 
			 Paraguay 1   
			 Poland 14 5 5 
			 Qatar 1 2 7 
			 Republic of Korea 1 1 1 
			 Romania 9 8 14 
			 Russia 8 5 4 
			 Saudi Arabia 2 2  
			 Senegal 5  1 
			 Serbia & Montenegro   3 
			 Slovakia 6 6 12 
			 Slovenia 6 2 8 
			 Spain 1 1  
			 Sweden 1 22 39 
			 Switzerland 11 5  
			 Syria  1  
			 Tanzania 1 1 1 
			 Thailand 2 1 1 
			 Turkey 32 21 23 
			 UAE 8 6 6 
			 Uganda   1 
			 Ukraine 13 10 10 
			 Uzbekistan   2 
			 Yemen 2 3  
			 Yugoslavia 2   
			 Total Students 264 246 281

War Widows

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Bach of 4 and 5 March (WA 1540 and 1542), whether they will consider relaxing the burden of taxation on war widows by reclassifying benefits to a service person's dependants as compensation rather than income.

Lord Bach: In setting the level of the benefits paid to widows and widowers under the new Armed Forces Compensation Scheme due account has been taken of the taxable nature of income payments. It would not be appropriate to seek to reclassify them.

Territorial Army

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans there are to make the Army's new command leadership and management courses for non-commissioned officers available to members of the Territorial Army.

Lord Bach: A study is currently being conducted to identify how best to integrate the Territorial Army into command leadership and management training. Initial findings from the study are likely to be available later this year.

Army Training Units

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will give details of the current staff levels of British Army training support units, training units and training teams outside the United Kingdom and Germany; and
	What plans they have for British Army training support units, training units and training teams outside the United Kingdom and Germany.

Lord Bach: The current staffing levels of those permanent army training units, based outside the United Kingdom and Germany, are listed below. There are no current plans to alter their present role. British Army Training Unit Sheffield (BATUS), in Canada Permanent staff—203 Temporary staff—318 British Army Training Unit Wainwright (BATUW), in Canada Permanent staff—7 Temporary staff—20 British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) Permanent staff—11 Temporary staff—28 Locally employed civilians—156 British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB) Permanent staff—26 Temporary staff—28 Locally employed civilians—144 Jungle Warfare Wing (JWW), in Brunei Permanent staff—69 Locally employed civilians—14 ra

Ministry of Defence: Compensation to Kenyan Civilians

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What compensation claims have been paid to Kenyan civilians since November 2002 as a result of claims made against the Ministry of Defence.

Lord Bach: The Ministry of Defence has paid £5 million compensation to Kenyan civilians since November 2002 for injury and death allegedly caused by munitions left on ranges by members of HM Forces while on exercise in Kenya. The first 233 claims were settled by way of mediation in July 2002 for £4.5 million with payments made in or after November 2002. The second tranche of 1,046 claimants were paid £500,000 in February 2004 following a mediation meeting in November 2003.
	In addition, minor amounts of compensation have been paid in relation to road traffic accidents. Details of these payments are not held centrally and can only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Child Protection Register

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidance they will give to local authorities about the review of cases where children have been placed on "at risk" registers as a consequence of disputed medical evidence, even though that evidence may not have been tested in the courts.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: We have no plans to issue further guidance to local authorities which relates to the review of children who have been placed on the child protection register as a consequence of disputed medical evidence which may not have been tested in the courts.
	The local authority circular, LAC(2004)5, which was issued on 25 February 2004, provided guidance to councils about the action needed in the light of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the criminal case of R v Angela Cannings. This included guidance in respect of children whose final care orders are in place and the finding of significant harm turned on disputed medical evidence.
	The Government's child protection guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children (1999) sets out clearly when a child should be placed on the child protection register and the review process which should follow registration. It emphasises that the purpose of the child protection review is to review the safety, health and development of the child against intended outcomes set out in the child protection plan. simone

Private Finance Initiative: Hospitals

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they received any complaints relating to issues of conflict of interest in the allocation of a contract to Health Care Projects, a subsidiary of Skanska Innisfree, for the rebuilding of St Bartholemew's and the Royal London Hospital under the private finance initiative; and, if so, whether consideration was given to such complaints before or after the signing of the contract.

Lord Warner: We do not accept that any conflict of interest has arisen in the appointment of Skanska/Innisfree as the preferred bidder for the redevelopment project at the Barts and the London NHS Trust. Throughout the entire procurement process the trust has been open and transparent about the involvement of former trust staff with Skanska/Innisfree.

Diabetes

Lord Dixon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many registered diabetics there are in the area covered by South Tyneside Primary Care Trust; and of these how many are aged (a) 0–4; (b) 5–14; (c) 15–24; (d) 25–34; (e) 35–44; (f) 45–54; (g) 55–64; and (h) 65 or over.

Lord Warner: This information is not available in the form requested. However, the Health Survey for England estimates that the number of people with diabetes in England is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Number of people with diabetes 
			 1994 1,378,707 
			 1998 1,684,111 
		
	
	Source:
	Health Survey for England

Food Labelling

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in the interests of consumer choice, they will seek improvements to European Commission Regulation 1829/2003 by requiring the labelling of meat and milk to show whether or not it has been produced from genetically modified animal feed.

Lord Warner: European Commission Regulation 1829/2003 will be reviewed two years after adoption. This will provide an opportunity to discuss revisions to the regulation for example the labelling of milk and meat from animals fed genetically modified animal feed. simone

Hepatitis C

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to ministerial undertakings to consult the Haemophilia Society on all aspects of ex gratia payments scheme for hepatitis C infection from contaminated National Health Service blood products, when the Department of Health will be meeting the society to discuss issues of implementation.

Lord Warner: As part of the Department of Health's ongoing dialogue, officials from the departments of health in England, Scotland and Wales met with representatives from the Haemophilia Society and other patient groups on 26 March 2004 to discuss the implementation of the ex gratia payment scheme, and in particular the application process.

Pharmacies

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of pharmacies have facilities to obtain information about a customer's medical history in private.

Lord Warner: This information is not held centrally.
	However, the Office of Fair Trading's report The control of entry regulations and retail pharmacy services in the UK, published in January 2003, included results from a questionnaire of pharmacies conducted by Frontier Economics. It reported half of those pharmacies responding had private consultation areas.
	We expect the number of pharmacies providing suitable private consultation areas to increase. We are currently discussing a new contractual framework for community pharmacy in England with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and the NHS Confederation. Designed to improve the range and quality of services offered to patients, our discussions include proposals for pharmacies to provide a range of advanced services subject to accreditation of the pharmacist and/or the pharmacy premises meeting specific requirements. This would include providing a suitable private consultation area for patients. We hope to conclude discussions shortly, and, subject to a further ballot of contractors, implement the new framework later in 2004.

NHS Continuing Care

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government: simone
	As a result of the Health Ombudsman's February 2003 report on National Health Service continuing care:
	(a) how many complaints have been reviewed by each strategic health authority in total;
	(b) how many complaints have been found to be eligible for continuing health care funding (i) in a nursing home; or (ii) elsewhere;
	(c) how many complaints have been rejected; and
	(d) how many complainants have requested a further review by a panel hearing; or have submitted their complaint to the ombudsman; and
	As a result of the Health Ombudsman's February 2003 report on National Health Service continuing care:
	(a) how many complaints remain outstanding; and
	(b) by what date all outstanding reviews should be completed.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health does not collect information on the setting in which people receive continuing care or the number of individuals who have requested a further review by a panel hearing. The position on the total number of investigations, the number of people recompensed, rejected for recompense or remaining outstanding will be reviewed after the end of March 2004.

European Social Charter

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are any differences between the European Social Charter 1961 and the revised charter which create potential obstacles to ratification of the revised charter by the United Kingdom; and, if so, whether they will identify the nature of the obstacles.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Some of the new and extended provisions of the revised social charter are not clearly defined and appear to require open-ended commitments from governments. The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) considered the application of the revised charter by the first states that had ratified it, for the first time in 2002–03. In its conclusions on the first national reports, the ECSR stated that it will progressively determine its interpretation of the amended and new provisions and has asked the relevant countries for a range of additional information to help it do so. The UK Government hope that definitions will be clearer following forthcoming interpretations from the ECSR in 2004–06, to help to inform its decisions on which of the new or extended provisions of the revised charter it can accept with a view to ratification.

Pension Protection Fund

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to locate offices of the Pension Protection Fund in southern England; and, if so, how this can be reconciled with the Lyons report recommendation for an enforced presumption against London and south-east locations for new government bodies and activities.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: When considering the location of the Pension Protection Fund we took into account the principles of the Lyons review before reaching a decision.
	The Department for Work and Pensions is acutely aware of the need to consider location as part of the business requirements and is already widely dispersed. Further departmental relocation proposals out of London and the south-east are included in the Lyons review.
	In reaching a decision to locate the Pension Protection Fund in southern England we looked at three independent criteria:
	achieving successful implementation of the PPF
	ability to recruit expert staff
	value for money.
	On balance we concluded that southern England was the best option which met the business needs to ensure that the Pension Protection Fund could operate with optimum effectiveness and efficiency.

Alvis

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they propose to withhold the proposed acquisition of Alvis by General Dynamics from European merger scrutiny for reasons of national security; and, if so, whether they propose to require assurances from General Dynamics as to the future operation of Alvis before reaching a conclusion on this proposal.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: No decision has yet been reached regarding the Government's position on the regulatory scrutiny of the proposed merger.

Northern Ireland: Sub-Post Offices

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they have had with the local authorities and any other organisations in the area before any closure of sub-post offices in Northern Ireland is proposed.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: These are operational matters for Post Office Ltd and my honourable friend the Minister for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services has asked the chief executive to respond direct to the noble Lord.

Legal Fees

Lord Vinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Competition Commission has investigated the current level of legal fees; and, if not, whether any such investigation is planned.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Competition Commission has not recently investigated legal fees.
	Decisions on whether any features of a market require investigation on competition grounds are primarily a matter for the Office of Fair Trading.

Renewable Energy

Lord Oxburgh: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 22 March (WA 84), whether they have made any calculation of the transportation cost, in forms of average carbon equivalent emissions per MWh of electricity generated, of importing biomass fuel for co-firing.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: My previous response stated that any attempt to estimate the level of imports of biomass or its source would be highly speculative and the data unreliable. Consequently, it would be also doubtful that we could make any such calculations on transportation costs in terms of average carbon equivalent emissions per MWh of electricity generated as they would again be based on unreliable and not readily available data.
	However, a recent study carried out in support of the Renewables Innovation Review made a comparision of the CO2 emissions from imported Baltic woodchips and home-grown willow for combustion CHP. This information is the closest we have to that requested but it is related to CHP rather than co-firing. The results as compared to emissions from combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) were as follows:
	
		
			   
			 — CO2 emissions for willow combustion CHP: 
			 Using domestic fuel: 48g/kWh 
			 Using imported Baltic woodchips: up to 138g/kWh (an increase of up to 90g/kWh over UK fuel because of transport) 
			 — CO2 emissions from CCGT: 387g/kWh 
		
	
	There is a significant increase in emissions from imported fuel compared with the use of domestic resources, but emissions from imports are still just over a third of the emissions from CCGT.

Home and Leisure Accidents Surveillance System

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department of Trade and Industry is ceasing to collect statistics under its home and leisure accidents surveillance system and to provide the accompanying inquiry service; and, if so, for what reasons.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: My honourable friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield, the then Consumer Minister, announced withdrawal of support for the home and leisure accidents surveillance system on 2 May 2003, due to increased pressure on resources and the need to focus on DTI core priorities.
	Statistics to the end of 2002, the last in the series, were published by DTI on 18 December 2003.
	However, the DTI continued to provide the inquiry service until 1 January 2004 and since then the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents has been contracted to provide this service for a period of a further five years.

Wooden Floors

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In view of the number of accidents involving people falling on wooden floors and requiring attendance at hospital, what action they will take to improve advice given by wooden floor manufacturers and fitters to inform the public better.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The rising trend in home accidents involving wooden floors is a reflection of the increasing popularity of this type of flooring. The Department of Trade and Industry has no plans to take any specific action with regard to the instructions provided by manufacturers or fitters. As with other similar flooring surfaces, such as ceramic tiles and vinyl, consumers should take the normal precautions to reduce the risk of falling accidents. These include wearing slip-resistant footwear, avoiding polishing under rugs and mats and mopping up immediately any spilled liquid.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, when they advise miners and widows who miss the cut-off date of 31 March 2004 in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation that claims can still be made at common law, they will also advise them that unsuccessful claimants would be liable for all legal costs.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The DTI will continue to provide a freephone helpline, which will give claimants details of the claims process. Claimants will be advised to contact a solicitor to process a claim and they will be informed that they need to raise the issue of costs with their solicitor.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they have taken six years to settle 117,000 claims under the British Coal respiratory disease litigation; why three-quarters of claims remain outstanding, and when they expect the final settlement of all claims.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Delays have been caused by, among other reasons, duplicate claims and solicitors and clients not accepting initial offers. Claims are prioritised to ensure payment to miners who are living and of the 520,000 claims received to date, 227,000 were received in the past six months.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the total administrative and legal expenditure under the British Coal respiratory disease litigation as at 31 March 2004 broken down into payments made to (a) claims handlers; (b) medical service providers; (c) Coal Health Claims Unit; Department of Trade and Industry; (d) Nabarro Nathanson, the department's solicitors; (e) the Solicitors Co-ordinating Group; and (f) solicitors representing individual claimants.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: To date, the total administrative cost of the British Coal respiratory disease litigation liabilities for claim handlers and medical services is £323 million. It is not possible to break this figure down into separate diseases or individual contractors, as the information remains commercial in confidence. To date, we have paid £275.2 million to solicitors with regard to British Coal disease work. The administrative cost of the coal health claims unit is estimated to be £1.7 million for the financial year 2003–04.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why, under the British Coal vibration white finger litigation, they now require elderly miners and widows to produce witness statements from former colleagues, when successive Ministers have given assurances that the miners' word would be taken.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The assurances my noble friend is referring to relate to claims in respect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereby if a claimant submits his work history and other documentation supporting his claim, then his word would be taken. This is subject to the claimant's legal representative explaining what steps they had taken to obtain corroborating witness statements and that there is no contradiction in the evidence. This applies to claims submitted by elderly miners and widows.
	Vibration white finger claims are handled on the basis of the claims handling arrangement (CHA), agreed between the DTI and the claimants' solicitors group. The CHA includes an occupational group procedure, which sets out the requirement for corroborating witness statements to be provided for the claim to be considered. Discretion in this respect can be exercised for elderly and deceased claimants.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking, following the recent ruling by the Law Society, to require solicitors who have double charged to make full repayment, with judgment rate interest, of all fees unlawfully deducted from compensation awarded to miners and widows under the High Court schemes for vibration white finger and respiratory disease.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: My honourable friend the Member for Edinburgh South, as the Minister responsible for coal health claims, has written to solicitors asking them to repay any fees taken from clients on top of the fee they received from the DTI. Those who have failed to reply to my honourable friend's letter have been removed from the DTI's list of solicitors and have been referred to the Law Society.
	The Government welcome the decision taken by the Law Society, as the solicitors regulator, that it was against their code of practice for solicitors to charge clients for making compensation claims where the DTI is meeting solicitors' costs. DTI officials continue to meet with the Law Society to progress matters.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in connection with the British Coal respiratory disease and vibration white finger litigation, they will now instruct their claims handlers that cheques be drawn in favour of the miner or widow claimant, thereby preventing solicitors double charging and others deducting unlawful fees from awards of compensation.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: As a matter of course cheques issued by IRISC, the department's claims handlers, are drawn in the name of the claimant. Cheques are issued in the name of another individual or organisation only where signed authority from the claimant has been received.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will now refer the conduct of solicitors who have double-charged in the British Coal vibration white finger and respiratory disease litigation to the Serious Fraud Office; and, if not, why not.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Conduct of solicitors is being dealt with by their regulator, the Law Society. Those firms of solicitors who have failed to confirm that they are not double charging have been referred to the Law Society.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many common law vibration white finger claims have been lodged with the Department of Trade and Industry in respect of living miners since 31 October 2002, the cut-off date in the British Coal litigation; how many of those claims were settled by payment; and what was the total compensation paid.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: As at 28 March 2004, 1,785 claims have been submitted since the vibration white finger scheme was closed to live claimants on 31 October 2002. 1,547 were from live claimants and 238 from the families of former miners. Of the 1,785, 840 have been denied, the remainder have not been settled because they are being investigated at present. shirley

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will cancel the exclusive handling agreement for miners' respiratory claims between the Department of Trade and Industry and the Union of Democratic Mineworkers (Nottingham Section), given that such claims are marketed for profit through Vendside Limited.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The agreements with the UDM/Vendside ceased with the closure of the schemes.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether compliance with Department of Trade and Industry guidelines has had an adverse effect on the performance of their claims handlers in respect of miners' and widows' respiratory and vibration white finger claims; and when those guidelines will be made available for scrutiny, as agreed by the Minister responsible for coal health claims.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Claims under both schemes are processed in accordance with the claims handling agreements, agreed with the miners' solicitors.
	My honourable friend the member for Edinburgh South, the Minister responsible for coal health claims, circulated to members of the Coal Health National Monitoring Group copies of the vibration white finger group 3 guidelines earlier this year. He agreed to provide members with copies of previous copies of the guidelines shortly. The guidelines have led to a uniform and consistent approach to the handling of group 3 claims and the number of claims being reviewed per month has increased since the beginning of this year.
	There are no similar guidelines for processing respiratory disease claims.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department of Trade and Industry entered into an exclusive handling agreement for mining claims with Vendside Limited, as claimed by that company; if not, whether the department approved the assignment of any such handling agreement entered into with the Union of Democratic Mineworkers (Nottingham Section) to Vendside Limited; and whether they will make all relevant documentation available for inspection.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The claims handling agreements entered into with the UDM/Vendside Ltd are identical to those reached with the claimants solicitors group in all aspects except the costs tariff, which is lower under the UDM/Vendside Ltd agreements. simone

Art Galleries

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many art galleries have received grant aid in the north-west of England during the years 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 to date.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The numbers of art galleries in the North West receiving Exchequer-funded grants from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are as follows (records are kept for financial years):
	2000–01 19
	2001–02 24
	2002–03 17
	2003–04 13
	Mostly these are one-off grants from sponsored bodies, but a few galleries receive continuing funding because they are directly sponsored by the department or are partners in the Renaissance in the Regions programme.

Gershon Report

Viscount Goschen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 23 March (HL Deb, col. 588), whether civil servants were involved in briefing the Financial Times on the draft Gershon report.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: I refer the noble Lord to what I said in the House on 23 March. Consistent with convention, the Government do not comment on leaked reports.

English Institute of Sport

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government: simone
	What facilities form part of the English Institute of Sport; where the funds for the construction of sites came from; who owns the sites; and what were the incomes charged to national governing bodies of sport for the use of facilities in 2002–03 and 2003–04.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The table lists all of the facilities that form part of the English Institute of Sport.
	
		Core EIS Capital Programme
		
			 Sport Facility provision Site 
			 Hockey Water-based hockey pitch—2 upgrades University of Birmingham 
			 Hockey Water-based hockey pitch and floodlighting Polo Farm Sports Club/ Canterbury Hockey Clubs 
			 Multi Sports Science/Sports Med Equipment University of Bath 
			 Hockey Water-based hockey pitch Cannock Cricket and Hockey Club 
			 Sailing New Club and Facilities Hayling Island Sailing Club 
			 Squash 7-court upgrade Birmingham University 
			 Hockey Water-based pitch Exeter University 
			 Hockey Highfields Sports Club (note all but increase budget in community fund) Highfields Sports Club 
			 Swimming 50m 8-lane pool, seminar room, sports science lab and other facilities Loughborough University 
			 Sailing RYA National Training Venue Rutland Sailing Club 
			 Squash Nottingham Squash Rackets Club—extension Nottingham Squash and Rackets Club 
			 Bobsleigh Simulated start University of Bath 
			 Generic Water-based pitch Loughborough University 
			 Hockey Water-based pitch East Grinstead 
			 Multi EIS Sheffield Centre Phoenix Sports Ltd 
			 Rowing Redgrave Pincent Rowing lake Caversham Lakes Company 
			 Gymnastics Men's centre Leeds Met University 
			 Athletics Equipment and upgrade of 3 Rivers Stadium Haringey 
			 Diving Southampton pool upgrade Southampton CC 
			 Gymnastics Acrobat centre Deerness Gym Club 
			 Badminton Upgrade national centre BAoE 
			 Netball/Badminton 12 court sports hall Loughborough University 
			 Hockey Realign pitch SC Trust 
			 Hockey Upgrade of Pitch to Water based Durham HC 
			 Athletics Indoor Straight Loughborough University 
			 Athletics Indoor Athletics Centre Birmingham CC 
			 Hockey Upgrade of Pitch to Water based Reading HC 
			 Hockey Water based hockey pitch Wakefield Hockey Club 
			 Athletics Indoor Centre University of Bath 
			 Multi Improvement to NIA Birmingham CC 
			 Hockey Upgrade to water-based pitch Surrey County Council 
			 Multi Redevelopment of Bisham Abbey Sports facilities SC Trust 
			 Cricket National Academy Loughborough University 
			 Multi Sports Science/Sports Med Centre Loughborough University 
			 Generic Fit out of EIS North West area Manchester City Council 
			 Gymnastics Gorton Gymnastics Centre Upgrade Gorton GC 
			 Sailing Weymouth Sailing Academy Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy 
			 Multi Multi development of gym and EIS SC Trust—Lilleshall 
			 Judo 2/4-mat dedicated centre Wolverhampton University 
			 Athletics/ EIS Indoor 200m track/ 150m straight Lee Valley Park Authority 
			 Cycling Accommodation and support areas at Manchester Velodrome BCF 
			 Hockey Upgrade of pitch to water-based Chelmsford HC UK Athletics Development Fund
			 Athletics/ EIS St Mary's College St Mary's College 
			 Athletics/ EIS Brunel University Brunel University 
		
	
	The construction of the sites was funded by £120 million of Sport England lottery funding and partnership funding from a variety of sources depending on each individual project. The sources of partnership funding ranged from sponsorship, direct university funding, local authorities, regeneration funding and funds raised by sports clubs. There was partnership funding on all of the English Institute of Sport sites.
	The sites are owned by the individual agency(s) who received lottery funding and, as such, are responsible for the ongoing operation of the sites. Some of the sites are owned by universities (such as Bath and Loughborough), some are owned by local authorities (including Manchester and Birmingham City Councils), others by sports clubs (such as Hayling Island Sail Club) and some are enhancements to existing national sports centres (Bisham Abbey).
	National governing bodies (NGBs) are charged a fixed pre-agreed amount to use the facilities. The facilities costs are met from the NGBs' current world class plans, and the remainder of the costs being accessed by the sites via an application to Sport England. Thus there is sufficient funding to ensure athletes have required use of the facilities and the facility owners have certainty of funding.
	Across the network, £1.5 million has been set aside by Sport England to cover the costs of all NGB's facility hire costs in 2002–03 and 2003–04. Funding in the NGB lottery-funded world class performance plans augments this figure. In effect therefore, NGBs do not have to allocate any of their own resource to cover the costs of the usage and delivery of services in the English Institute of Sport network. The funding identified above does not cover any revenue deficits generated by the facilities and is targeted at meeting the costs of the NGB usage only. Any operational deficit is met by the site owners.

English Institute of Sport

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment has been made of the impact of the charging arrangements by national governing bodies of sport on the use of facilities that form part of the English Institute of Sport.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The costs of elite governing body use of the English Institute of Sport sites are met through governing bodies' world class performance plans and a lottery-funded facility hire programme. This ensures that governing bodies have autonomy in deciding the most suitable location for their athletes to train and facility owners have confirmation that there will be funding available to cover their overheads. Facility owners have to apply to Sport England to access the facility hire budget and each application is assessed to ensure maximum benefits are derived from the funding. In addition Sport England monitors the grants to measure their effectiveness on an ongoing basis for the duration of the grant period. The programme is in its infancy, but the early indications are that governing bodies are gaining sufficient access to sites and facility owners are able to meet their requirements effectively as there is sufficient funding in place to cover their costs.

Financial Incentives: Tax Liability

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the policy and practice of the Inland Revenue regarding the deduction from liablity to tax of financial incentives paid to United Kingdom companies or individuals to foreign governments or foreign corporations, or their officers, employees or agents, to encourage them to enter into commercial contracts or other profitable arrangements with United Kingdom firms.[HL2180)
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Section 577A of the Taxes Act 1988 provides that, when computing taxable profits, a business is not allowed relief for expenditure incurred on illegal payments. A financial incentive paid by a company or an individual to a third party for business purposes will not be deductible if the making of that payment constitutes a criminal offence in the UK, or would do so if the payment were made in the UK. The Inland Revenue's policy and practice is to apply the legislation as intended. ra

Olympic Games 2012: London Bid

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	From where the funds will be found to finance the bid for London to host the 2012 Olympic Games in the event of the bid failing.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The memorandum of understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London, presented to Parliament in June 2003 as Command Paper CM 5867, states that "DCMS and the London Development Agency propose to contribute to the costs of the bid organisation and associated planning in equal shares to July 2005 to a combined limit of £30 million." London 2012 is also seeking private sector funds to support the bid.

Olympic Games 2012: London Bid

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether consideration has been given to London residents receiving preferential access to tickets for the 2012 Olympic Games in the event of a successful bid for London to stage the event.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There are no plans for London residents to benefit from a preferential ticketing policy. However, a number of events such as the marathon, road cycling and triathlon are likely to be able to accommodate large numbers of local people watching free of charge. shirley

Olympic Games 2012: London Bid

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What would happen if the estimated cost of £2.375 billion required to stage the 2012 Olympic Games, in the event of a succcessful bid, overran; and whether the Government would cover the deficit.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The up to £2.375 billion funding package described in the memorandum of understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London published in June 2003 makes allowance for the potential public sector contribution to support the staging of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is in addition to private sector sources of funding such as sponsorship and television rights. Beyond this, the Government, as stated in the memorandum of understanding and reiterated in a departmental minute presented to Parliament on 2 December 2003, have given a commitment to be the ultimate guarantor for the Games. On current contingency plans, the Goverment would expect to discharge this responsibility, should it arise, in a sharing arrangement to be agreed as appropriate with the Mayor of London and for their part seeking additional National Lottery funding. These expectations will be further reviewed in summer 2005.

European Directives: Transposition Notes

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How members of the public, or litigants in United Kingdom courts, can obtain particulars of any Act of Parliament or any part thereof arising from a directive of the European Community and Union, together with references thereto; and what are the likely costs of doing so.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Transposition notes are currently produced to accompany legislation that requires transposition into UK law, except where it can be demonstrated that the resources required to produce a transposition note are significantly greater than can be justified by the resulting added benefit to the reader. They set out how the main elements of a directive have been, or will be transposed into UK law. They are available in print from departments and should also be accessible via departmental websites. The full text of UK legislation which transposes EU directives into UK law can currently be accessed at no charge using the search engine on the HMSOnline website (www.hmso.gov.uk), where entry of details of the directive will provide a link to the legislation which transposes the directive into UK law. This can be, however, a cumbersome arrangement for users and Her Majesty's Stationery Office, as part of its plans for the future development of Legislationonline later this year, plans to deliver an improved facility for users where they will be able to link directly from the full text of the UK legislation to the full text of the directive as published on the Europa website.

Special Advisers

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish information on the main areas of work delegated by Ministers to each special adviser, identifying the main areas of departmental policy with which each special adviser is concerned.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers sets out the main areas of work to be undertaken by special advisers. A copy of the code of conduct is in the Library of the House. In addition, in their response to the ninth report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, the Government agreed that where a special adviser has a particular expertise or works mainly in a particular area of the department's work this will be indicated in the annual statement to Parliament on the numbers and pay bands of special advisers by department and the overall salary cost. The list for 2003–04 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year.

Special Advisers

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) Whether special advisers are recruited on the basis of criteria and procedures laid down by individual Ministers, or whether the criteria and procedures are agreed by Ministers collectively; and (b) what are the criteria and procedures which have been used by Ministers (whether individually or collectively) in recruiting their special advisers.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Since their inception in the early 1970s, it has been the nature of special adviser appointments that they should be outside the rules of fair and open competition as they are personal appointments made by the Minister at his or her request to meet particular needs. For these positions, Ministers seek a combination of political and personal commitment, relevant expertise and personal trust and confidence. It is because of this combination of qualities required for the job that the Civil Service order in council and the Civil Service Commissioners' recruitment rules recognise that it is necessary to exempt such posts from the normal Civil Service recruitment rules. simone

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the annual number of complaints received by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration compares with the annual number of complaints received by parliamentary ombudsmen in other European and Commonwealth countries, taking into account population sizes in those countries; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 17 March (WA 55), whether they are aware of any country which restricts access to a parliamentary ombudsman to members of that Parliament.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Information on the number of complaints received by the Parliamentary Ombudsman is set out in her annual report. Information on the number of complaints received by parliamentary ombudsmen in other countries is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, I have written to the noble Lord offering him a factual background briefing from the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration on the handling of complaints by equivalent ombudsman schemes in other countries. I understand that France operates a similar scheme to that operated in this country in terms of access to the ombudsman.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 17 March (WA 55), whether they have identified any objections in principle to the creation of a right of direct access by members of the public to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration for complaints of maladministration by government departments; and, if so, what are the objections; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 17 March (WA 55), what is the justification for preventing Members of the House of Lords referring complaints by members of the public to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 17 March (WA 55), how long ago they considered the case for introducing legislation to create a direct right of access by members of the public to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Under the terms of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967, complaints to the Parliamentary Ombudsman must be made through a Member of the House of Commons. The review of the public sector ombudsmen in England, published in 2000, considered the case for introducing legislation to create a direct right of access by members of the public to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. As my Answer of 17 March made clear, discussions with the Ombudsman on this issue are continuing.